Off-Duty Bethlehem Police Officer Charged With DUI After Crash

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An off-duty Bethlehem police officer was charged Wednesday with drunken driving, six days after he flipped his sport utility vehicle and crashed into three parked cars, according to city police.

Richard M. Hoffman, 34, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16 percent, twice the state’s legal limit to drive, and admitted he had been drinking before he plowed into the cars at East Broad and High streets, police said.

Although the crash happened early in the morning of Aug. 8, Bethlehem police officials released no details about the crash until Wednesday, saying they needed the complete accident report before filing charges.

Hoffman is on paid administrative suspension with the department pending the outcome of the criminal charges against him, which include the highest rate of drunken driving, drunken driving and careless driving, according to police Chief Jason Schiffer. Police are also conducting an internal investigation, Schiffer said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-t-bethlehem-police-officer-dui-crash-richard-ho-20130814,0,542254.story#ixzz2bzsFJTlX
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Cops: Driver Crashes Near Pottstown While Checking On Groceries

Location of Lower Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  I don’t know, maybe a cooler would have been a good idea….

LOWER POTTSGROVE — A driver struck two other vehicles Tuesday night because he was checking to see if the steaks he bought were still frozen, police said.

After the accident, the man fled the scene and ran through the Home Depot parking lot off Armand Hammer Boulevard, according to police.

The suspect was found a short time later with the help of witnesses and family members.

Zsolt Michael Kohalmi, 25, no known address, is accused of hitting two vehicles on Armand Hammer Boulevard around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday then running from the scene, police said.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130328/NEWS01/130329385/cops-driver-crashes-near-pottstown-while-checking-on-groceries#full_story

Marcellus Shale Gas Boom Has A Downside – Crime

In a modern-day echo of the raucous Old West, small towns enjoying a boom in oil and gas drilling are seeing a sharp increase in drunken driving, bar fights and other hell-raising, blamed largely on an influx of young men who find themselves with lots of money in their pockets and nothing to do after they get off work.

Authorities in Pennsylvania and other states are quick to point out that the vast majority of workers streaming in are law-abiding. But they also say the drilling industry has brought with it a hard-working, hard-drinking, rough-and-tumble element that, in some places, threatens to overwhelm law enforcement.

Read more: http://www.stargazette.com/article/20111029/NEWS01/110290358/Pa-towns-see-crime-surge-amid-gas-boom?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Highways Becoming Safer – Traffic Deaths Hit 61 Year Low

Some good news to report about the safety of America’s highways!  In 2010 32,788 people died on the nation’s highways.  This is down from 43,320 deaths in 2005, which represents a 25 percent decrease in five years.

In 1949 the U.S. population was less than half of what was reported in the 2010 census.  The number of miles driven rose by 20.5 billion in 2010.  With more cars and people on the nation’s highways than ever before, the fatality rate per 100 million miles was 1.09 in 2010 (a record low).

A big reason for the reduction of automotive fatalities is the use of seatbelts.  Nationally, seatbelt usage stands at 85 percent, which is an all time high.  Along with technology like anti-lock brakes, airbags and drunken driving crackdowns, seatbelt use has made a huge impact on driver safety.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Land Rover Crashes Into State College Arby’s Going 60 MPH – Driver Suspected Of DUI

Image via Wikipedia

Seriously, driving through State College Borough going 60 mph!  Are ya daft!?! 

A 28-year-old Ferguson Township man was driving down South Atherton Street (Business Route 322) and attempted to turn right on West College Avenue (Route 26) going 60 mph!  The “driver” lost control of his Land Rover, jumped a curb, crashed through a metal rail, a cement pillar, the side door and a window before coming to a stop.  Are we trying out for the Demolition Derby?

Thankfully, the restaurant was closed (it was 2:45 a.m.) or this would have been a catastrophe!  There was a passenger in the car who was treated for minor injuries.

The “driver” failed a field sobriety test (say it ain’t so Joe) and was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for a blood-alcohol test.  The driver will be charged with a DUI and reckless driving.

Arby’s will be closed until next week and the part of the building which was impacted by the vehicle was ruled structurally questionable and will need extensive repairs!  Imagine if that restaurant had been full of customers!  This bone-head should be throw in jail and not allowed to pass go!